Ingot mold



June 5, 1951 R. S. HOSMER INGOT MOLD Filed Oct. 25, 1948 INVENTOR. RoaRr d. HosmsR y W A g my ,a/pzt nrronuavs Patented June 5, 1951 UNITED STATES ATENT v OFFICE INGOT MOLD Robert S. Hosm'er, Birmin ham, Ala.

Application October 25, 1948, Serial No. 56,389

Claims. 1

My present invention relates to molds, and

while not limited thereto, relates particularly to molds for steel ingots.

In the art to which my invention relates, ingot molds are generally formed of cast iron, and

are slightly tapered on all sides, thereby to permit the ingot to be drawn after the same has solidified. In some steel mills it is the practice to pour the metal into the small end of the mold, while in others the metal is poured through the large end. In the latter instance, the mold and contents must be inverted in order to strip the mold from the ingot. Pouring through the large end of the mold has the advantage of maintaining a larger supply of molten metal in the top of the ingot during solidification, thereby permitting such metal to feed into the void created by solidification, and hence reducing the extent of the fault condition in the ingot known as a In other Words, it generally is more satisfactory to pour through the large end of the mold, but with molds heretofore known, such method of pouring has necessitated inverting the mold after pouring to strip the ingot therefrom.

It is the primary object of my invention there-- i ore, to provide an ingot mold in which the molten metal may be poured into the mold through the large end thereof, and embodying means permitting the solidified ingot to be drawn without inverting the mold.

More particularly, it is an object of my invention to provide an ingot mold of the usual frustopyramidal shape in which the opposite walls at the large end are provided with removable sections or inserts, whereby after the ingot has solidified the sections may be removed to permit character designated in which the removable sections are constructed and arranged to be selfsupporting on the upper end of the mold, thus to prevent them from falling either into or outwardly of the mold during pouring, together with means to hold the sections flush with the inner walls of the mold to prevent the formation of ribs or depressions on the ingot.

A mold embodying the features of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a plurality of molds embodying myimproved invention, part- 13/ broken away, and diagrammatically illustrating the pouring operation;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of one of the molds shown,

in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional View taken generally along line III-III of Fig. '2;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a mold embodying a modified form of my invention;

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view taken generally along line V-V of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a sectional View similar to Fig.5 and showing the inserts removed from the mold and with a lifting device positioned to strip the ingot;

Fig. '7 is a perspective view of one of the removable sections disposed to fit the mold shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of a mold embodying a still modified form of my invention;

Fig. 9 is a fragmental sectional view taken generally along line IXIX of Fig. 8; and,

Fig. 10 is a side elevational view of the mold shown in Figs. 8 and 9.

Referring now to the drawings for a better understanding of my invention and more particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, I show a plurality of ingot molds Ii] disposed side by side, and into which molten metal is to be poured from. a ladle ll, movably supported on an overhead track or the like l2. As will be understood, the molds it! are frusto-pyramidal, and may be formed of concerned. Except as will be hereinafter pointed out, therefore, the particular shape, size and type of mold forms no part of my invention as the same may be used to advantage with various types of molds.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 I provide upwardly opening V-shape d openings H in the ends of opposite walls of the mold at the large end l3 thereof. The side walls of the openings i1 diverge from the outside toward the inside of the mold as clearly shown in Fig. 2. Disposed to fit into the openings l! are removable sections or inserts I8 which when in place are disposed to form continuations of the sidewalls of the mold. The sections [8 may be provided with suitable lifting hooks I9 by means of which they may be removed.

On the outer surfaces of the sidewalls of the ..molds, adjacent the openings H I securea pair of sitioned with the thick and thin ends t and t' oppositely disposed with respect to each other. Pivotally mounted on the sections l8 are latch members 23, adapted to engage the wedgeblocks 2| and 22, thereby to hold the sections [8 snugly in place in the openings and prevent the same from falling into'the mold before the metal is poured. The diverging walls of the openings I1 prevent the sections l8 from falling out of the mold. The wedge blocks assure a tight fit for the members l8 and consequently the inner surfaces of the mold are free of cracks and obstructions which would be objectionable in that they.

beveled lower edge 3| adapted to fit into the beveled portion 21. Likewise, the members 28 :are provided with a portion 32 adapted to form a continuation of the major thickness of the wall of the mold, and the upper end may be enlarged as indicated at 33 to add weight to the insert. Suitable lifting hooks 3A! are provided by means of which the inserts are removed and inserted. V In Figs. 8, 9 and 10, I show another form of my invention in which the mold I is provided with a u-shaped or rectangular opening 36 in opposite walls at the large end. The vertical edges of the openings 36 are provided with grooves 31. The removable inserts 38 are provided with tongues 39 disposed to cooperate with the grooves 3i. Lifting hooks 4| are provided for each of the inserts 38.

In operation, the molds are positioned on the as well as the sides of the openings with graph- 'ite or the like to prevent sticking of the same.

The removable sections are therefore readily lifted out of place, to expose the top of the ingot thereby to permit the lifting device to take hold of the ingot for stripping.

As before stated, the advantage of pouring a mold with the large end up is well'understood.

The larger quantity of molten metal provides a supply for the ingot I as the same solidifies adjacentthe center, thereby reducing the pipe. Likewise, it will be apparent that some of the occluded gases rising through the molten metal during solidification will have an opportunity to escape from the mold adjacent the top through the various openings or slots 11, 24 or 36. The

' openings adjacent the top of the ingot thus permit the escape of gases, further aid in eliminating the pipe, and thereby decrease the amount of wastage for each ingot poured. I From the foregoing it will be apparent that I have devised an improved mold especially adapted for pouring steel or the like ingots which permits the mold to be filled withthe large end up, and obviates the necessity of inverting the mold and ingot to strip the same. While I have illustrated several shapes which the openings in the moldwalls and the inserts'therefor may take in practice, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various forms of openings and complementary inserts may be provided. Likewise, while I have described my invention as being particularly useful for pouring steel ingots, it will be apparent that the same may be used to advantage in'pouring non-ferrous metals in various types of molds or flasks, or the same may be employed advantageously in pouring ferrous metals in forms of molds other than the one illustrated herein.

While I have shown my invention in several forms, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that-it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various other changes and modifications, without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire,

stools IS with the large end I3 thereof up. The

therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a mold, oppositely disposed openings in the walls of the mold of a depth to extend below the surface of the metal poured into the mold,.a removable insert for each opening disposed to fit snugly into the opening and lie flush with the inner walls of the mold, and means cooperating with the inserts and the mold to hold the inserts in place in the openings.

2. In a mold adapted to be filled with metal while standing on end, upwardly opening slots in the walls of the upper end of the mold, said slots extending below the surface of metal poured into the mold, and removable inserts disposed to fit snugly in said slots and lie flush with the inner surfaces of said walls during pouring of the metal into the mold.

3. In an ingot mold disposed to be filled through the large end, upwardly opening slots in the upper end of opposed walls of the large end of the mold, said slots extending below the surface of metal poured into the mold, removable closures for said slots disposed to fit therein and lie flush with the inner surface of said walls, and means to hold theclosures against lateral shifting with'respect to the walls.

4. In an ingot mold, a substantially V-shaped upwardly opening slot in the opposed walls of the mold at the large end thereof, removable complementary V-shaped inserts disposed to fit in the slots and lie flush with the inner surfaces of the sidewalls of the mold during pouring, and mechanism coacting with the inserts and the molds to positively hold the inserts in place in said slots.

5. A mold asdefined in claim 4 in which said mechanism comprises a pivoted latch member carried by the inserts, and wedge means on the mold cooperating with the latch thereby to hold the inserts against moving inwardly of the mold, the sidewalls of said slots and inserts being constructed and arranged to interlock thereby to hold the inserts against moving outwardly of the mold.

ROBERT S. HOSMER.

(References on following page) 5 6 REFERENCES CITED FOREIGN PATENTS fi The; igllowirg rgferences are of record in the Number Country Date 18 15 Pa 18,276 Great Britain Sept. 12, 1891 UNITED STATES PATENTS of 1890 Number Name Date OTHER REFERENCES 387,764 Butz Aug. 14, 1888 1,039,725 Gathmann Oct 1, 1912 Gathmann The Ingot Phase of Steel Produc 1,219,180 somers Man 13, 1917 n, pages 11-25, Second edltwn, 19

1,9'78,996 Gathmann Oct. 30, 1934 10 

